Board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn treats receding gums with connective tissue grafts, AlloDerm, tunnel technique, and PRF therapy -- just 10 minutes from Irvine
Gum recession rarely stabilizes on its own. Once the root surface is exposed, the thin tissue margin continues to migrate, and the tooth loses its protective seal against bacteria. A connective tissue graft performed under microsurgical technique can restore full root coverage in the majority of Miller Class I and II defects -- but timing matters. Earlier intervention means simpler surgery, faster healing, and more predictable results.
— Dr. Chanook David Ahn, DMD, Board-Certified Periodontist, Yale-trained
Gum grafting is a periodontal surgical procedure that restores gum tissue lost to recession. When gums recede, the root surfaces of your teeth become exposed -- creating sensitivity to temperature changes, increasing the risk of root decay, and compromising the structural support that holds teeth in place. The procedure involves transplanting tissue to the areas of recession, rebuilding the protective band of attached gingiva that healthy teeth require.
Recession can affect a single tooth or span multiple teeth across an entire arch. It develops gradually, often over years, driven by factors including aggressive brushing habits, thin gum biotype (a genetic trait common in fair-skinned individuals), orthodontic tooth movement, periodontal disease, teeth grinding, or misaligned bite forces. Many Irvine patients first notice recession when a tooth starts looking longer than its neighbors, or when they experience a sharp sensitivity to cold water or air along the gum line.
The critical distinction with gum grafting is that it is both a restorative and preventive procedure. The graft does not simply cover exposed root -- it creates a thicker, more resilient tissue margin that resists further recession. Without treatment, recession tends to progress, and the procedures needed to correct advanced recession are more complex and less predictable than those performed at earlier stages. A board-certified periodontist can assess the classification of your recession, measure tissue thickness, and recommend the appropriate grafting approach before the condition worsens.
The Loft Dental Studio is located at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 -- a straightforward 10- to 12-minute drive from most Irvine neighborhoods. Our office sits in the South Coast Metro area near John Wayne Airport, positioned between Irvine and Newport Beach with direct freeway access that makes the commute predictable regardless of which part of Irvine you are coming from.
Patients from the Irvine Spectrum and Great Park areas typically take the 405 Freeway north to Fairview Road or Bristol Street, arriving in about 12 minutes. From Woodbridge and the University Park area near UCI, Jamboree Road provides a direct surface-street route that avoids freeway traffic entirely -- the drive runs about 10 minutes through the Back Bay corridor. Northwood and Portola Springs residents can take the 261 Toll Road to the 405 or use Culver Drive to Jamboree. From Turtle Rock and Shady Canyon, University Drive connects to the 405 or you can take Bonita Canyon to Jamboree for a scenic route through Newport Beach's Back Bay.
Free parking is available at the Airway Business Center complex, and there is never a parking structure to navigate. The straightforward access from I-405, SR-55, and Jamboree Road means you can schedule a morning consultation and be back in Irvine before lunch.
Beyond convenience, Irvine patients choose our practice because gum grafting outcomes depend directly on the training and surgical skill of the clinician. Dr. Ahn is a board-certified periodontist who completed his residency at Yale and performs gum grafts using microsurgical instruments and magnification. This is not a procedure performed occasionally as part of a general dentistry practice -- it is a core part of Dr. Ahn's daily surgical caseload. That volume and specialization translate to more refined surgical technique, better tissue handling, and more predictable root coverage results.
Not all gum recession is the same, and the grafting technique should match the specific clinical situation. Dr. Ahn evaluates the depth of recession, the width of the defect, tissue thickness, root prominence, and your aesthetic goals before recommending one of the following approaches.
The connective tissue graft remains the gold standard in soft tissue grafting. A thin layer of subepithelial connective tissue is harvested from beneath the surface of the palate (roof of the mouth) and transplanted to the recession site. The harvested tissue is rich in collagen and fibroblasts, which promote healing and integration with the surrounding gum. CTG produces the thickest, most durable tissue coverage and has the highest long-term success rates in peer-reviewed literature. Dr. Ahn uses a minimally invasive harvest technique that reduces palatal discomfort and accelerates donor-site healing.
AlloDerm is a processed acellular dermal matrix derived from donated human tissue. It eliminates the need for a palatal harvest site entirely, which means less post-operative soreness and a simpler recovery. AlloDerm works well for patients who need multiple teeth grafted simultaneously or who have limited palatal tissue available. While long-term studies show CTG produces slightly thicker tissue in most cases, AlloDerm delivers excellent results for appropriate candidates -- particularly when combined with Dr. Ahn's tunnel technique, which places the material beneath existing tissue for a seamless result.
The tunnel technique is a minimally invasive approach where the graft material is threaded beneath the existing gum tissue through a small entry point, without making vertical releasing incisions or reflecting a traditional flap. This preserves the blood supply to the overlying tissue, promotes faster healing, and produces a more natural-looking result with no visible suture lines. The tunnel approach is particularly effective for treating multiple adjacent teeth with recession in a single procedure. It requires advanced microsurgical skill and precise tissue manipulation -- capabilities that distinguish a specialist-level practice from a general dental office.
PRF is an autologous concentrate prepared from a small blood draw taken at the beginning of your appointment. The blood is processed in a centrifuge to isolate a fibrin membrane rich in platelets, growth factors, and white blood cells. This membrane is placed over the graft site to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue integration. PRF is not a standalone gum grafting technique -- it is an adjunctive therapy that enhances outcomes when combined with CTG, AlloDerm, or tunnel grafting. Dr. Ahn incorporates PRF into most grafting procedures as part of a comprehensive healing protocol.
Gum grafting is performed under local anesthesia, but many patients prefer the additional comfort of IV sedation -- especially for multi-tooth or full-arch cases that involve longer surgical time. IV sedation places you in a deeply relaxed, semi-conscious state where you remain breathing independently but are unaware of the procedure. Most patients have no memory of the surgery afterward.
Dr. Ahn offers IV sedation on-site at The Loft Dental Studio. This eliminates the need for a separate surgical center or hospital setting. For Irvine patients who experience dental anxiety or who simply want the most comfortable experience possible, IV sedation transforms a multi-hour grafting procedure into what feels like a brief nap. You will need a driver to bring you home, and we recommend resting for the remainder of the day.
Find out which grafting technique is right for your recession. Our Costa Mesa office is just 10 minutes from Irvine with free parking and Saturday availability.
Call (714) 549-7030Some general dentists offer gum grafting as part of their practice, and Irvine patients sometimes ask whether there is a meaningful difference between having the procedure done by a general dentist versus a board-certified periodontist. The short answer is yes -- and the difference is most apparent in the precision of the result and the long-term predictability of root coverage.
A periodontist completes three additional years of surgical residency training focused exclusively on the gums, bone, and supporting structures of the teeth. Gum grafting is not a procedure learned through a weekend course -- it requires thousands of hours of supervised surgical training and ongoing case volume to develop and maintain the tissue-handling skills that produce consistent outcomes. Dr. Ahn uses microsurgical instruments and optical magnification that allow him to work with tissue at a level of precision that is difficult to replicate with standard dental instruments.
For Irvine patients considering gum grafting, the practical implication is straightforward: a periodontist who performs gum grafts daily will generally achieve higher percentages of root coverage, thinner and more natural-looking tissue margins, and fewer complications than a generalist who performs the procedure occasionally. When you factor in the time, cost, and recovery involved in any surgical procedure, having it done right the first time by a specialist is the most efficient path to a lasting result.
The cost depends on the number of teeth treated, the grafting technique selected, and whether autogenous tissue or AlloDerm is used. A single-tooth connective tissue graft typically ranges from $800 to $2,000. Multi-tooth cases involving tunnel technique or AlloDerm will vary based on the extent of recession. We provide a specific cost breakdown after your examination and verify your insurance benefits before any treatment begins. Financing is available, and FSA/HSA accounts are accepted.
Most patients return to desk work within one to two days. The graft site heals over two to three weeks, during which you follow a soft diet and a gentle oral hygiene protocol designed to protect the graft while it integrates. Palatal soreness from a connective tissue graft harvest typically resolves within 7 to 10 days. Full tissue maturation -- where the grafted area blends seamlessly with the surrounding gums in color and texture -- takes three to six months. PRF therapy accelerates the early healing phase and reduces swelling.
Many PPO dental plans cover gum grafting under periodontal surgery benefits. We accept Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans. Our team contacts your insurance carrier to verify your specific periodontal benefits and provides a written estimate of your out-of-pocket responsibility before treatment begins. Coverage amounts vary between plans, and some insurers require documentation of medical necessity.
Connective tissue grafts use your own palatal tissue, which provides the thickest and most durable coverage with the highest long-term success rates. The trade-off is a donor site on the roof of your mouth that requires its own healing time. AlloDerm eliminates the palatal harvest entirely, simplifying recovery, but may produce slightly thinner tissue in some cases. Dr. Ahn recommends the technique based on your recession pattern, tissue thickness, and the number of teeth involved. In many cases, the difference in outcomes is clinically minimal -- the right choice depends on your specific anatomy.
Warning signs include teeth that appear longer than they used to, visible root surfaces (often yellow or darker than the enamel), sensitivity to cold or hot along the gum line, a notch you can feel with your fingernail at the base of a tooth, and thin or translucent gum tissue even without visible recession. Not all recession requires immediate grafting -- some cases can be monitored if the tissue is stable. A periodontal evaluation with probing measurements, tissue thickness assessment, and digital imaging gives Dr. Ahn the data to make an evidence-based recommendation tailored to your situation.